TT MEMORIES 2007
Its 4.30am monday 11th February-- and I cant sleep. I'm thinking about Muriel Farrington--"NO WAIT I HAVE'NT FINISHED"--I'm thinking about Muriel's last e:mail saying "Come on Jim get your ass in gear I need a tt story for the MOVer mag"
So here it is:
Well that's another great TT week over (10 days this year) it was the 100th anniversary of the races and also my 41st visit since 1967. Will I ever get tired of the TT ? --NO CHANCE--Every year brings new friends and the chance to see old motorcycling friends, who we have'nt seen for 12 months--and after 10days you realize once a year is enough in some instances!!!!!!
Bob Day and Angus Wing (what a great name) flew in from Texas--Bob lives in Plano, and Angus lives in Houston. Bob used my Honda ST1100 and I managed to get a CBR 600 for Angus, the bike belongs to John Hopwood an old friend who lives in Castletown on the Isle of Man.So everyone had some wheels and a great time was had by all--again!!! The weather was kind to us, but not as hot as the 2006 TT when Ted and Lynn Hall were over for their first TT visit--come back soon Heifermeister and bring that hot weather again--plus that drink I'm sure you still owe me !!!!!!
The racing is over for this year and I'm sat on the memorial seat dedicated to Mike Hailwood at Hailwood Heights (top man on any bike you put him on). It's up on the mountain near the Brandywell Corner about 1/2 a mile along from The Bungalow another famous much photographed spot on the TT course.
I have sat here at the end of TT week each year since 1992 and placed flowers at the side of the road in memory of my eldest daughter Gail. She passed away in 1991 at the age of 27yrs and over that 27yr period Gail and I have seen a lot of great TT MEN pass this spot--Hailwood,Agostini,Read, Ivy, and hundreds more. Plus all the top sidecar men--Enders, Schauzu, Auerbacher, Fath all mounted on BMW s.But Chris Vincent on a BSA sidecar outfit beat all the BMWs in 1962!! I hear you are rather keen on BMWs in Vermont!!Theyr'e ok for pulling a chair(sidecar) I suppose--only joking!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a wonderful place to see the races, and Gail and I have walked miles along the mountain fields (since she was 4yrs old in 1968) while the top men have gone screaming by--in the days of the mighty Honda 6 cylinder works bikes you could hear the bikes miles away as Hailwood wrung their neck as he left Ramsey Hairpin 6 miles away. Our last time together at this spot was 1990 when we blasted past on the Honda.
Sitting on Hailwood's seat you can see back down the course for about 4/5 miles on a sunny day--and on a bad day about 6 feet if you are lucky--anyway today was a sunny, warm clear day,just perfect for a fast lap of the course, and I'm sat here thinking about Gail and past TTs when I hear him coming.The 4 into 1 exhaust howling as he comes up The Mountain Mile-------long before he comes into sight around The Veranda and I can see his headlight blazing until he moves out of my sight again near the Les Graham Memorial and then he is into view again at The Bungalow. I can hear OUR HERO as he goes for every last rev in each gear--with the rev limiter cutting in and out (TT music) and sparks flying as the exhaust touches down on the right hand bend as he leaves the Bungalow. He is on a Honda Fireblade ,it's the 'must have' bike in 1992,and he's giving it PLENTY. When he's about 200yds away from me--with a loud bang and what appears to be a cloud of smoke--he's suddenly passed me. As he heads up the road to the highest point on the TT course at Brandywell I can see that there are 2 Heroes on the Blade, crouched low behind the fairing, and suddenly I can see the reason for the cloud of grey behind the bike. Its not the bike blowing up in a big way--no its the ashes of their mate being emptied out of an URN by the pillion onto the road. As the--" 3"-- of them hurtle out off sight towards Windy Corner with more ashes and sparks from the footrests and I'm stood there in my nice light grey leathers--they were black before i became covered in THE DECEASED'S ASHES--- There and then I decided when it's my turn to go in the Big Oven--I'd like the family to bring me back to the Island and scatter me at great speed right here where Hailwood's bench and Gail's flowers are. But let's hope that's a long way off!
Another Magic "TT MEMORY"
Altogether now "I THINK I WILL GO JUST ONE MORE TIME"
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Sunday, 13 Apr 2008
"TT MEMORIES 2003"
or
Why does it always happen when there are lots of witnesses?
It had been another pleasant early evening ride up to Heysham on the west coast of England only a 100 miles from home. We were booked on the 02.00am ferry, Jean and I were on the Honda ST1100 and Ian and Carol were on his Kawasaki GTX 750R.
A big plus this year--no need to haul heavy panniers with vast amounts of Jean's clothes-shoes-etc and all those things that women seem to need for a holiday on Mona' Island ( another name for the I.O.M.) "Jean it's a bike holiday,not a bloody fashion show" Although I must admit she scrubs up well for an "Old Bird"
The reason we had none of "Jeans Fashion Outlet" with us, Neil--Ian,s brother--was taking his builders van this year with his ZZR1100 and my old Honda 750 plus Jean's gear. Kevin and Pam are a couple from Somerset who we had met on the TT ferry in the 70s and they were going to use the old Honda for their holiday. They will ride anything--as long as it's someone else's bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are great company but drink a little too much, but don't pay often,be warned if you make it to the TT sometime!!
Although it's only about 1and 1/2 hours to the ferry terminal,you can do it in an hour --BUT-- TT time means lots of police about on the roads leading to the ship. The ride gets better the closer you get to Heysham--it's 8 miles from our place up to the motorway-M62- a great country road, fast and open--similar to the Mountain Road in the Island. But you have to keep your eyes open for sheep wandering about--even sleeping in the centre of the road sometimes. The A672 road from The Trotter house runs through Sowerby Bridge--Triangle--Ripponden, and then opens up into open countryside passing Boothwood Reservoir .If you look up to your left (watching out for suicidal sheep)the bike is now travelling parallel with the M62 where you can see bikes--usually German lads on BMWs--moving at high speed(for BMWs) on the run from the Hull Ferry on the east coast up to Heysham about a 200 mile ride for them. As we head up the slip road to entry 22 its a great feeling as you become part of an ever-growing group of bikes heading for another TT. About 20/30 miles away from Heysham as I look in the mirrors all you can see are bike headlights following--(its BMWs trying to catch up)--but every so often here comes a "HERO" in the fast lane--he just cant help himself, one I really remember I think it was 1988--riding a Laverda "JOTA" 1000cc--I heard him as he blasted past--don't they make a great sound those 3 cylinders. The speed limit is 70mph on our motorways--but you can get away with 80mph,and we were sitting at a nice 80/85 when he came past--head down with the wire stretched to 140 easy--with a set of blue lights flashing behind him!!!! We never saw the "JOTA" again, but about 5miles up the motorway on the hard shoulder was a cop car with smoke pouring out of the bonnet (hood) and tail pipe!!!!!! Laverda JOTA 1 Cops 0
We had left far too early for the ferry,but planned on a drink before the pubs closed at 11pm. There,s one at the crossroads about 300yds from the ticket office on the dockside,and by the time we arrived the place was heaving. Whatever bike gets you going there was one to look at as we walked round drinking our first and only beer before the sea cruise. Just as we were about to mount up and leave we noticed a group of about 6 young bikers throwing beer at one poor lad in the group. Turns out he was in charge of tickets and arrangements for their first ever TT trip-- they should be on the 2pm sailing later that day--not--the 2am boat they had turned up for-- so they had a long wait.His leathers were covered in beer and Guinness etc but it was all good natured fun.
Time to embark--as they say--for TT number 36. Some ferry trips are memorable--.lots of laughs,beer,strange sights,new friends,stunning bikes/girls and bad crossings(only one so far) But Jean and I must have had a good 4 hrs sleep this time.I don't remember much about our Irish Sea Cruise--but I certainly remember "GETTING OFF" the boat!!!!
Jean and Carol had walked off the boat,because it can take a long time to unload 150/200 bikes and 1400 passengers. Ian and I had got split up when we got on during the night,so he didn't see what happened--good job as you know what your mates are like --always ready to take the ---- when things go wrong.
I know I meant to put the choke on BUT----must have got talking to the lad next to me as we untied our bikes. Anyway the ST fired up no trouble and seemed to be running cleanly,but how the hell can you tell when your surrounded by a mad bunch of bikers crazy to hit The Mountain Road at 6am for the first time since last years TT Races. Exhausts of every make from round the world are being warmed through--some at close to maximum revs,some headbanger is doing a burn out on the steel decking. Horns are being sounded impatiently-the 2 stroke haze is creeping into my helmet---I love it--its TT TIME again. Oh to be 18 and do it all over again.
Its my turn to get in gear and climb the ramp up onto the deck. I think it all went wrong on the first ramp, I got up the ramp ok but as the front wheel mounted the level area between ramps and I began to turn right the Honda ST coughed and stalled(no choke) and over we went,back down the ramp. If id had an 60inch inside leg perhaps I could have saved the bike---but its doubtful--an ST1100 must weigh at least 650/700lb and feels even bigger at embarrassing times like this.
For an old guy(I would be 63 when this happened) I must have been bloody quick at times like this--before the bike can pin me to the deck and cause me more embarrassment I'm upright. Now I'm watching the bike first hit the engine crash bar--then carry on over until it smashes the right hand mirror and plastic fairing cover--then go over even further until the windshield hits the deck and the bike comes to a halt at last.
Don't expect sympathy when you are on your arse on the bikers boat and your in the way ,all i could hear was "Ever thought of buying a moped or a scooter mate" "Come on stop lying around I want my breakfast" "Must be one of those born again bikers" "First time on the ferry I see" " Does your mother know your out on your own" "Must be a girl" That's just a few things I can remember--and then they all start sounding their horns--sometimes its good to be wearing a full face helmet.
A young guy came to my assistance and between us I was upright once again and back on my wheels. This time with plenty of choke we made it out onto a very warm, sunny Douglas sea front. In spite of 'THE OFF' it was another great TT. It always is, altogether now
'I think I'll go just one more time'.
PS There was a letter in the Motor Cycle news a couple of weeks later, some guy complaining about born again bikers who couldn't even get of the Isle of Man ferry. I think he was writing about me.
I'm sure his time will come.
JIM